History

Batson is located in Hardin County, Texas. It is a small community, whose history is full of booms and busts. The area of the community was inhabited by native tribes long before people of European decent began to arrive in the area. These natives lived off of the abundance of the region. Shortly after the arrival of these people, the natives were displaced from the region.

The settlers to the area were attracted to the prospect of the lumber industry that would eventually take hold and flourish. This industry really took off in the mid 19 th century as the railroads built new lines throughout the region. The railroads gave the lumber industry a wider market, which caused it to expand rapidly. This was the time when the Batson family first moved to the region and settled in what would become the community.

Unlike other areas, the discovery of oil came early for Batson. In 1903, the first oil field was discovered. This discovery caused the population to swell to over 10,000 people in a very short period of time. Unfortunately for the community, the oil production from the field was short lived and in the mid 1920’s production had declined so much that the population shrunk to just 600 people. This remained the case until the mid 1930’s when another oil field was discovered near the town.

The population would again swell over a few decades, but would eventually decline as the production decreased.

Today

Today the population is very small. The community remains unincorporated. Highway 105 runs directly through the middle of the little town. Remnants of its oil past and the booms that came with it are on display for all to see. The town is located nearly half way between Houston and Beaumont. Although the area is one of the fastest growing in the country, the town has not seen any growth in population over the last few decades.

Things to do

One of the great things about Batson is it is located in-between two cities, which offer tons of things to do. A short drive in either direction will provide endless culinary, nightlife, shopping, entertainment, and educational opportunities. Houston has become one of the hottest spots in the country for restaurants. As the population has grown, it has attracted many top chefs looking to make a name for themselves. This means some of the top dining experiences are at your fingertips. Additionally, Houston is home to four professional sports teams and a famous rodeo. There is always something to do.

Beaumont is home to several restaurants and shopping areas also. In addition, there are several educational spots in Beaumont. A few of the top spots are the McFaddin-Ward House Historic Museum, the Edison Museum, the Texas Energy Museum, the Art Museum of Southeast Texas, the Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum, and the Fire Museum of Texas.

Batson is also located around several parks and nature areas including the Beaumont Botanical Gardens, Village Creek State Park, and the Sam Houston National Forest. The community may be small, but the surrounding area is loaded with things to do for everyone in your family.